VAN fleet: trees on city and village streets 
81 
nances in other sections of the country authorize the planting of shade 
trees with public funds along public highways between the curb and side¬ 
walk, or, between the sidewalk and the private property line. 
From a number of personal observations made where trees have been 
planted between the sidewalk and the property line, it is in my opinion, 
the most feasible and practical method, where the set back of building 
will permit. While I do not profess to be a Horticulturist, neverthe¬ 
less I have gained some experience as an amateur gardener, and I can see 
by this method of planting that a tree will have more opportunity to 
develop a stronger radial and feeding root system, than if it were planted 
in the narrow strip between the sidewalk and curb, where the root sys¬ 
tems would be greatly restricted due to the present day pavement, and 
the resultant, dead, gas filled earth under same. 
There was a value in trees planted along the curb line thirty or forty 
years ago, for at that time 4 gravel or water bound macadam surfaces 
were used which required a certain amount of moisture to maintain them 
properly, but today with the installation of water mains, gas mains, 
sewers, surface water catch basins and drains, electric power and com¬ 
munication conduits in our highways, together with the very extensive 
use of concrete for highway paving, curb foundations and sidewalks, 
the curb side shade trees are greatly handicapped by man, in covering 
their root systems with an impenetrable top which prevents them from 
receiving proper food and nourishment through the lack of water. 
Concrete or asphaltic pavement with concrete base, are the com¬ 
monly accepted pavements now in use and are gradually but effectively 
sounding the death knell of all trees planted along the curb lines. 
Furthermore planting along or in back of the property line would 
result in better shaped trees, as the trunks and limbs would not be 
cramped under a canopy of overhead wires, which, in a great many 
instances cause more serious damage to the trees through chafing and 
burning than it does to the wires. 
It is of vital importance and modern civilization demands that 
municipal signaling systems, adequate and efficient street lighting, public 
communications and other electrical transmission services be installed, 
yet it is a well known fact among Expert Tree companies, Municipal Tree 
departments, and those whose duty it is to maintain these services, that 
we are unjustly and severely criticised when even under the best known 
practices, we are compelled to prune trees planted under aerial trans¬ 
mission lines in order to maintain the service demanded by the public. 
